Welcome to Poltava!

Our city is situated on the picturesque bank of the river Vorskla in the central part of left-bank Ukraine. It encourages economic development with regional and international relationships . Poltava is an ancient city.

Our city has ancient history and traditions. In 1999 the city celebrated 1100 years from the first settling and 825 years from the first mention in literature. The modern territory of Poltava region was settled long ago. The unique "guards" of olden days prove it, such as: the archeological dig of the settling of people the epoch bronze (III - the beginning of the I century B.C), the memorial signs of Scythian-Sarmatian period (VII - III century B.C.), etc. The biggest of these settlings is Belskoe gorodishche (75km from Poltava). Here was the capital of Scythia - the town Gelon. The traces of this civilization were found in Poltava and outskirts of the city. Many historical events are connected with Poltava. For instance, the war of Lithuania and Russia in 1399 under the supervision of prince Vitovt, Sweden-Russian battle in Poltava in 1709.

Poltava as cultural and spiritual center of Ukraine.

The principle of planning the city constructions is ring-shaped, the same as in St.Petersburg (Russia). If one looks at Poltava from height, it looks like the sun. Lots of rays of this sun envelop more and more territory with every year. The characteristic feature of the city is the great number of different signs of the ancient days, literature, architecture, memorial museums, galleries, exhibition halls, wonderful parks, lanes and ponds. Every nook of our city shows us with the special intrigue and sharpness the modern view at ancient history through the prism of traditional nature and innovation. It reflects in the city architecture as in the mirror of eternity.

The architectural compositions of the church buildings amaze especially: power of Uspensky Cathedral, holistic of Chrestovozdvizhensky Monastery, refinement of Spasskaya Church, sublimity of Voznesenskaya Church, greatness of Makar'evskaya Church. The different high and secondary schools, colleges, historical signs and cultural establishments represent the powerful infrastructure for science, study, rest, study of local lore, tourism.

Poltava is associated with the names of famous people: scientists, writers, teachers, composers, actors, artists, religious figures. Among them are: G.Skovoroda, A.Pushkin, N.Gogol', I.Kotl'arevsky, V.Vernadsky, A.Makarenko, V.Sukhomlinsky, M.Dragomanov, Y.Kondrat'uk and others. Hundreds and even thousands well-known people were born in Poltava, except these perpetuated in the monuments and memorial boards.

Ukrainian women for a long time were famous by their unfading beauty, natural refinement, spiritual generosity, sincere hospitality, unrestrained aspiration to family harmony and home idyll. And it's not accidentally! The distinguishing feature of Ukrainian people's mentality is cordiality, which life-holding formula is "to pass everything through the heart and soul"! Maybe, the secret of charm of Ukrainian women and their mystique key to the men's hearts are covered just in it. Let's remember, for example, the story of charming and clever Ann, the daughter of Yaroslav Mudry. She was Ukrainian by birth and the queen of France by her destiny: Or the story of her sister Beth, the wife of Norwegian king Garald: Or the story of beautiful Roksolona, the ordinary Ukrainian girl, the favorite wife of the Turkish sultan and influential woman-politician: Poltava's girls are especially esteemed among Ukrainian girls.

Men who have come to Poltava from abroad, very often left their hearts and souls here forever. There are a lot of examples of it in the history. Poltava's girl Natalya Kochubey was the first image for the love of young Pushkin and the prototype of Tatyana in his poem "Evgeny Onegin". By the amazing coincidence of circumstances, one more Poltava's girl Ann Kern touched the soul strings of this well-known poet. He devoted immortal lines to her refined and many-sided nature "I remember the wonderful drumbeat:" Natalka-Poltavka of Kotl'arevsky remains the modular image of the most typical characteristics of the charming Poltava's girls for many years. There are not subject to time the charming and beauty of Poltava's girls. It's their unique weapon.

The secret of using this weapon is not clear for the most people. The famous Italian actress Sophie Loren before the shooting the film "Sunflowers" made the special visit to Poltava to inspire with Poltava spirit of "generous heart", to become Poltava's girl in her spirit. Are you intrigued? Do you want to plunge into the mystery of Poltava's lend? Do you want to know Ukrainian girls' secret of eternal youth? We invite you to the fascinating trip on our web-space!

If you are ready to travel and want details, please contact me at: svetlana@svetlanas.com